The Thundering Herd (Final) - Page Text Content

1: I would like to dedicate this book to the loving memory of Mom and Dad, and to all my brothers and sisters and their families. The focus of this book is "Mom's Wall", the collection of our baby pictures she loved and proudly displayed, originally adding a new picture nearly every year in that old two bedroom house where it all started and in every house, apartment, and nursing home that she resided for the rest of her life. May we all be an example of this legacy as we embrace each other and Christ in our lives. John E. Peltier P.S. Putting this project together has been like herding cats. | Dedication

2: Twelve children were born into the Barbara and Wilburn Peltier family. Momma, as she was called by us, was our primary care giver, and she affectionately called us her "THUNDERING HERD". Daddy was in charge of directing our energies to the smooth running of the family farm. The herd included: Peter Carl Born June 27, 1942 Katherine Matilda (Kay) Born September 25, 1943 Louis Mitchell Born July 28, 1946 Kenneth James Born October 16, 1947 John Eldridge Born November 15, 1948 Rebecca Susan (Becky) Born December 31,1949 Stephen Thomas Born February 16, 1952 Paul Anthony Born June 23, 1953 Leo Patrick Born July 24, 1954 Deceased July 31, 1954 Arthur Matthew Born December 17, 1956 Richard Laurence Born November 22, 1957 Mary Carol (Molly) Born December 26, 1960 Dad was born April 23, 1915 in Concordia, Kansas to Telespore and Matilda (Tilly) Peltier. As far as the eye could see were wheat fields with pockets of other grains and grazing cattle. The only difference from then until now is the typical farm then consisted of maybe one quarter to one half section (a section is 640 acres, one square mile) of land. With the advent of bigger, better, more horsepowered machinery a farmer of the twenty first century can effectively farm several sections utilizing the same manpower. Dad grew up on one of these farms with his three sisters. Formal education was not a priority in that time and place; his ended with the seventh grade. When he was in his twenties he relocated to Danbury, Texas, where some of his Kansas cousins had migrated some years prior and taken up rice farming. He decided to seek his fame and fortune there, and in that business. Mom was born April 7, 1918 in San Bernardino, California to Peter Thompson and Sarah Katherine (Kate) Keillor. Her mother's sister Ida lived in San Bernadino, and there were no facilities to birth a baby in Nada, Utah. Her Papa and Momma were homesteading one half section of this bleak and rugged land in southwestern Utah called the Escalante desert, . Her papa, also worked for the railroad as section superintendent and earned a pass so his wife and family could ride the train at no cost. Mom, Uncle Pete, and Aunt Esther lived the lives of children in a pioneer family; the house where they lived was constructed from old railroad ties and a wood slatted roof. Mom told us that during the winter there was nothing between them and the North Pole except a barbed wire fence. | Grandma killed a coyote | THE THUNDERING HERD

3: They "proved up" the homestead. The land was said to be free, but when you consider the brutal conditions and the sweat equity, I believe they would tell you it was a pretty expensive half section. The school closed in 1929 and they packed up and headed for Palestine, Texas. Before they left, Papa sold the railroad ties that made up the house. By the time they were out of sight of the house, most of their house and the remnants of other structures had already been loaded onto wagons. Aunt Esther married Uncle Edgy and moved to Palestine, Texas. He had a sheet metal business there and Papa worked with him for a while. (Esther, Mom's sister, was ten years older, born to Papa's first wife who died of sickness in Kansas around 1912 while Papa was off working.) Papa then moved the family to Raymondville. He was full of dreams and not afraid to seek them out; he had an itch under his feet and was always curious to find out what lay around the next hill. He had been roaming the world since he left his native Scotland late in the 19th century. Her Papa and Momma both died a few months apart in 1938. Mom graduated from Palestine High School and went on to graduate from Texas Womens University in Denton in 1940. When she accepted a teaching position at Danbury High School a new chapter of her life began. At the Danbury High School 1940 homecoming bonfire, some kids were rough housing and Momma was shoved in the direction of the fire, then a large strong right hand reached out and pulled her to safety. The hand that reached out was attached to Wilburn Peltier and he never let her go. The courtship ended on September 20, 1941 as they sealed their love in the covenant of marriage. | Grandma wearing her coyote stole, (made from the home school kill) leaving for Texas with Mom and Pete. | Grandma shot the coyote during recess of her home school class. Uncle Pete and Mom right

4: Wilburn Mitchell April 23, 1915 - August 29, 1969 He left us early, and without much stuff, but he left us with the "Right Stuff" to survive and prosper in the world around us. | Telesphore, Ellen, Aldeia, Alrose, Dad | Dad, Peter, Kay, Joyce | World War II European Theater October 27, 1943 September 23,1945 C. Company 93rd Medical Battalion CAMPAIGNS Ardennes Rhineland Normandy Northern France